The road to the NFL for St. Petersburg Lakewood (FL) High graduate Shaquill Griffin wasn't always easy, but there's no doubt it was marked by hard work and perseverance. And this past weekend, he was rewarded with a trip to the Pro Bowl this past weekend in Orlando.
Griffin was drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft in 2017 out of the University of Central Florida, where he was a four-year standout for the Knights. But before he was a college and NFL star, he was a big-time track and field performer who bested 10.78 seconds in the 100 meters, 22.19 in the 200 meters, 15.19 meters in the triple jump and 6.99 meters in the long jump. That triple jump effort, which equates to 49 feet, 8 inches, even won him a Class 3A championship in 2013.
And even though Griffin is now in the NFL, he hasn't forgotten about his track and field roots. Recently, he started a track and field club in St. Petersburg called the St. Pete Nitro Track Club. In the video above, he explains his hopes for the club.
